dubai wellness Archives | Page 2 of 4 | The Hundred

gratitude

Expressing gratitude isn’t always easy, actually sometimes it’s work.. Really hard work! Why? Because we can get so caught up being busy with our to-do lists and keeping up with everyone in the fast lane, that some days can leave us completely losing sight of all the gifts that are all around us.  

You see, gratitude isn’t something that only happens to us when good things come.  It’s something we practice and cultivate and give.  ‘Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more’- Melody Beattie.  It’s so easy to look at the ‘little’ things and think of them as small and non-important.  But let’s shift that perspective and look at each and every one as a little miracle.  And the everyday miracles and gifts in our lives were meant to be acknowledged, shared, and passed on.  

To help you on your gratitude journey, here are a few tips to become more aware and able to practice gratitude in your daily life. Simply choose 5 minutes (or more) a day to sit quietly and express your gratitude by writing them down – big and small. This practice alone will improve your overall outlook on life. So, go ahead, write 10 things, or write 50! The number isn’t important… Just give it a try! 

This month, we have a special challenge for you.  Pick a friend, family member, colleague or whoever, and agree to share daily 3 things that you are each grateful for. You could also do this on social media possibly, by paying it forward and sharing stories of giving (maybe highlight a friend or small business who is doing great things for others!)   Let’s help each other appreciate and celebrate the blessings all around, and right in front of us!  You never know how your little gesture of thanks — whether a text to a friend, an open door, a small donation, a smile, or an unexpected long hug will completely change someone’s life. 

Make thanks AND gratitude happen today.  Let’s get started right now! What are YOU grateful for? Let us know in the comments below or tag us on social media @thehundredwellness 

Quick exercise: Thank someone RIGHT NOW.  If you are reading this, you either have a phone or a computer, so make the call, send that text or write that email.  You never know how your kind gesture it will affect and change a person’s life. 

 

wellness on trend 

With each new year, comes new health and wellness trends. In 2017 as we became more focused on sustainability, gut health and better nutrition, and it set 2018 up to see a flood of new health products that better support our general health and wellbeing. To give you a heads up on what wellness trends we expect to be huge hits in 2018, we compiled a list of a few: 

01. DNA testing for optimal fitness performance—DNA testing has become more popular than ever over the past year. The promise of genetic testing is that it can tell you more about the way you’re built, so that you can tailor your lifestyle to fit your biology — and ultimately change up your fitness routine to get the best results. 

02. Gut Health—Fermenting – Have you been noticing more kombucha, kimchi and sauerkraut around these days? That’s due to the role of bacteria in gut health, which is linked to everything from Alzheimer’s, immunity, and obesity. A Google Trends analysis (June 2017) showed ‘gut health’ as one of the most growing search terms when it comes to managing health through food. 

03. Mindfulness trackers—Move over fitness trackers, because 2018 is all about the mind trackers. We’ve already seen apps such as Headspace and Buddhify, but now mindfulness trackers are being developed to help monitor our breathing patterns with a view to working out exactly when and what causes you stress. It’s thought that these devices will also pay attention to the way in which we sleep, recording different levels of sleep and again relating it to how stressed we may be feeling. 

04. Digital detox—Digital detoxes are also becoming more and more necessary in our constantly switched on society.  (We have been promoting this trend all year long!) As much as we try we just can’t ignore the pings of status updates, WhatsApp messages and Insta-stories. We predict that the phrase ‘disconnect to reconnect’ is going to be massive in 2018, as more and more of us start to notice the impact that social media has on our health.  

05. Cooking—While it may seem silly to include this in our list, but can you believe that a large percentage of the world’s population still doesn’t engage in cooking daily sometimes not even weekly? Cooking from home doesn’t just ensure the quality of your food, and your ability to control what ingredients are actually used, but it also can be super relaxing!  

06. Plant based diets— It’s not just about fancy superfood salads anymore, it’s actually creating delicious, sustainable, and healthy menus surrounding plant-based food. We have started to see restaurants pop up with with whole food menus, and our fingers are crossed that this trend will stick and grow bigger into 2018. 

07. Ditch the fad detoxes—This is one trend that we wish had been gone a long time ago, so we’re predicting that these harsh detoxes will die down, and be replaced with whole food resets/ lifestyle programs, that use more evidence-based science which shows that whole foods and compounds support our body at what it already does best- detox every minute of the day. *Spoiler alert: Stay tuned for more on this from us early 2018!!  

 

So, tell us, what are the trends you’re predicting for 2017? What about trends you wish would go away!?

emotional

As a parent, would you like to expand your awareness and understanding of ‘Emotional Intelligence’ (also known as EQ) to support your child? 

As we all know, kids are lively, witty, fast-talking, and more often than not they do the unexpected. One moment they may be running around full of joy, and the next crying in complete frustration while flinging toys across the room. These childhood meltdowns can be important opportunities to teach your child how to manage strong feelings and calm themselves down at an early age i.e. growing emotionally. . . and the secure circle of the family is the first and best place to teach these life lessons. 

On October 12th,  we are hosting a free interactive workshop with former school principal, teacher trainer, and SleepTalk Consultant Trainer Beryl Comar. In this two-hour workshop Beryl will share actionable tips to teach you how to communicate with children so that they listen, and she will also teach you as a parent to listen so your children can engage and share their feelings and thoughts.  

Not sure if this workshop is for you? Take a look at the questions below: 

01. Do you and your children keep cool and stay calm in stressful situations?  

02. Is your child confident and independent?  

03. Is he or she sociable and friendly?   

04. Does your child display empathy towards others and play well in a group?   

05. Can they express their emotions?   

06. Can they control their own moods and behaviours?  

Did you answer “no” to ANY of the above questions? Don’t worry if you did, it’s ok because Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a new concept to most people, and is not set in stone, so with the proper guidance it can be developed and strengthened!

So if you are free, join us for this parenting workshop is designed to help you understand your child’s social and emotional development, and how to nurture your child’s social and emotional skills.  And if you aren’t able to make it, Beryl will be seeing seeing clients in private sessions in the centre, and to book you can call us on +9714 344 7333 or email us.

Date: Thursday October 12th, 2017

Time: 9am -11am

Location: The Hundred Wellness Centre

Reminder: Limited spots available, so you must register and RSVP via email or call us on +9714 344 7333 to book your spot

changes

It’s Autumn, and changes are beginning as we are settling in after our return from the Summer holidays— new house, new job, new school, new rules and regulations, new fees. So many changes, nothing seems the same, even some roads have changed! Many young adults have flown the nest, gone off to university or started their first ‘proper job’. There are teenagers starting sixth form or college, kids gone up a year at school and even little ones about to start school. 

For all concerned, it can be stressful, and scary. Changes of any kind can throw us into the ‘fight or flight’ part of our brains, where it perceives the situation as a threat. This triggers a protective mechanism that can lead to anxiety, anger, bad habits such as smoking or overeating, excessive sleeping and tiredness, or insomnia and panic attacks. 

With all these changes in mind, the timing couldn’t be better for us to welcome back our friend, and renowned Emotional Intelligence Development Specialist, Beryl Comar to The Hundred Wellness Centre for the months of October and November. For those that do not know her, Beryl is a published author and the first person to introduce Hypnotherapy, NLP and EFT to the Middle East in 1990’s. She has worked internationally around the globe with royalty, celebrities and famous athletes, and is pretty amazing! 

Now there may be a single cause of your stress, or there may be a number of small challenges that have built up over time. This in turn might make it harder for you to distinguish what the root cause is, but that is how Beryl can help! 

We asked Beryl to give us some insight to share with you all, and here’s what she said:

 4 Tips for Mind and Soul Health to Be Aware Of (and keep note of) 

01. Most people can only “see” their problem from a conscious perspective (i.e. in the way the problem shows up in certain situations and circumstances in their life).

02. If a person has not been able to “get past” their problem through their own conscious life choices, then the REAL underlying issues (the “root” of their experienced problem) is, in fact hidden at a subconscious (unseen) level. 

03. To fully resolve a person’s problem (if they themselves have not been able to resolve it through conscious life choices) is to work at their subconscious level and address the real underlying issues buried there.

04. The “language” of the subconscious (the language a person’s unconscious can understand and properly process) are senses and how we symbolize these. “We are the movies we play in our mind” says Richard Bandler (the teacher of Tony Robbins and Beryl Comar) 

Becoming more emotionally intelligent (using hypnotherapy, EFT/tapping and NLP techniques) can help relax and calm anyone going through these stresses and changes, and can help to erase the blocks that have built up over a lifetime … “You rarely see a stressed kid, we learn to be stressed, so let’s release those old burdens” says Beryl. And Beryl knows what she is talking about! When she finds a person’s exact subconscious senses and symbols she knows how to change the subconscious with NLP, EFT or hypnotic metaphor to fully resolve deep-seated underlying issues in just one to three sessions maximum!! 

To Book your private session with Beryl (starting October 4th) please contact us via email or call us on +9714344 7333

Guest contributor: Beryl Comar

logo

Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow to reach new heights.

– Pauline R. Kezer

 

What a difference a year can make! Can you believe that almost 12 months have passed since we shared our revamped logo with you all?! That reveal, marked the start of our renewed journey— a journey that has been branching out with an even deeper focus on all things holistic.  

But what do we mean when we say ‘holistic’? At The Hundred we believe that to achieve optimal health we must gain balance in all aspects of our life – body, mind and spirit. So that means we don’t believe that we can/should focus on just one aspect of wellbeing, we look at everything as interconnected. As we continue to deepen our roots, we are spreading our branches even further to bring you even more cutting edge therapies, natural supplements, and effective classes. We are continuously working to provide our community with a place to actively transform the mind, body and spirit, to help change the way you feel and think. Our space truly represents the passion and vision of wholeness, and is a place to grow, learn, or simply reflect..

If you take a close look at our logo, you will see that it looks like the core of a tree. When we created the wellness centre, we wanted to offer a space that could function as the core of your healthy lifestyle. And just like a tree, when we think about our centre, it is very much a place that is deeply rooted in its location, that is organically growing stronger in wisdom and life. The wisdom is provided by our experts, and the life is provided by our inspiring clients. 

To discover the inspiration behind our revamped logo, created in collaboration with the talented Imagist London (who also designed the Hemsley + Hemsley logo), lets hit rewind and read our post from a year ago below:

 

To create our new logo we worked closely with Imagist London who have previously worked with The Hundred’s favourite foodie sisters – Hemsley + Hemsley. As many of you will know, the ‘Hundred’ in our name refers to the classic Pilates move, which is also called the hundred. This movement, first created by Pilates founder Joseph Pilates, focuses on the core of your body. It’s a movement that engages every single muscle in your body (like many Pilates exercises), and prepares you for your Pilates class and the day ahead. It’s one of the key foundations of the Pilates method – and the reason we named our health and wellness concept after it… As The Hundred Wellness Centre founder, Asma Hilal Lootah explains: “I picked a pilates move name because we started as a pilates studio and my passion for pilates is what kickstarted all of this. I chose ‘the hundred’ specifically, because it evokes nice memories with the group I used to practice with. We became friends and used to complain when we had to perform ‘the hundred’ because it’s quite challenging – but also with the 100 breaths it’s just lovely. We dreaded the effort involved but absolutely loved the achievement and the results.”

 

The Hundred Wellness Centre Dubai

“The Hundred Wellness Centre is a place rooted in its location and if you look at our new emblem, there’s a real sense of rooting. Of being at one with nature and all of the different ‘shoots’ of wellness that you can awaken your body and mind with and explore with us here…”

 

Imagist London worked closely with us to bring the philosophy of both The Hundred Wellness Centre Dubai and the hundred Pilates movement into – what we hope you will agree – is a beautiful new emblem.

If you look closely, you will see that it looks like the core of a tree. When we created our wellness centre in the heart of Dubai, we wanted to offer a sanctuary that could function as the core of your healthy lifestyle needs. This is why we worked so hard to find the very best people to provide the very best wellness services for you – including Pilates, super circuit, physiotherapy, Gyrotonic, yoga, homeopathy and natural medicine, infrared sauna, BioKat Bioresonance therapy, thermography and so much more – all under one roof. This is reflected in the new logo, the core is both our centre and the exercise, and really the foundations for your health and wellness journey with us.

“The Hundred Wellness Centre is at the core of your wellness needs. Our new emblem captures that perfectly, and we hope you will love it as much as we do.”

Your growth is our passion, whether it’s overcoming an injury with our physiotherapist, improving your strength and core with our Pilates workouts or educating yourself about the very best nutrition you can give your body with our workshops and supplements. Again, if you looks closely, you will see that this growth – which is at the core of our passion – is represented as the branches or lines of the emblem grow in size and direction.

Our new emblem also features 100 little lines or branches (count them!) and 5 roots – or bigger lines – which represents the five breaths in and five breaths out that you do with the hundred Pilates movement. Also, if you look at the negative space surrounding our new emblem, you will see that there is a little leaf, which was a totally organic, happy little accident. We hope you love it as much as we do, and we look forward to sharing more new things later this year… Stay tuned.

 

Feeling inspired? Find out more about the wellness services and fitness classes available at The Hundred Wellness Centre Dubai here and start your ultimate health journey…

 

thoughts

 

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale 

 

It has been found that our thoughts ultimately determine the emotional quality of our lives. Positive thoughts and happy feelings help create a happier outlook with a spring in our steps that then launches us into action.. just as the age-old saying goes— through your thoughts you can move mountains. 

So if this is the case we must pursue a change in the way we think in order to better facilitate happiness and the sense of fulfilment in our lives. The good news here is that the human brain is amazing, and willingly adopts any changes that we bring about in our thinking patterns. And while genes do play a role in your natural happiness levels, there are lots of things you can do to make yourself happier!

Here is a list of some ways you can change your thoughts and give a more positive direction to your life:

1- Showing gratitude for the good things you have is the truly most powerful happiness boosting activity there is. So constantly look for excuses to say “thank you.” It is such an effortless way to remind yourself of all the things you have to be grateful for in your life. 

2- Tell people why you think they are great. Their reactions are contagious and will make you feel good too!

3- Remember to not spend your days fixating on little, insignificant things that other people may have said or done – they are not spending their time thinking about you and all of your words and actions either. Because.. No one has time for that. 

4- Be present. Tell yourself, and remind yourself, over and over again to stay present. Initially, this may feel weird, but eventually, it may help you to get into a mindset of paying attention, listening and watching for all of life’s beautiful little things and moments. Like the way sunlight shines through leaves , the smell of the your morning coffee, and even the way your friend’s eyes light up when you meet up for lunch.. These are just some of the little, easy-to-miss signs that can help you fully enjoy your present moment. 

5- The human body is amazing! Your body is built up of so many moving parts that function in a certain way every day to get you up out of bed and help you achieve so many different activities all day long. So pretty much you are a walking miracle, so honor that gift by taking care of yourself! 

6-Trust yourself. Do not forget, especially in difficult times, that you’ve made it through a lot of things already that you never thought you would.

7- When you make a mistake, give yourself a few moments to get your head around it, accept it, feel frustrated over it, and then think about why it was a mistake, how you can learn from it, and how to avoid it next time. Then when you’re done, move on, let it go, and remember that in the end, you are human. 

8- Hold yourself to a standard of being a source of goodness and kindness for others. 

9- Remember, always, that happiness is a state of being, which is available at all times you just need to access it.

 

Now you tell us — Do you believe that thoughts have the power to transform your life? What do you believe stands between you and happiness? Please share your thoughts (or tips) and let us know!

let go

Letting go. We all know that it is human nature to become attached to things, memories and people, all of which puts us in our very cozy ‘comfort zones’. And it can be very difficult to let go of these attachments, even when we know that some are not good for us. But there is something important to be learned from the art of ‘letting go’, it is an opportunity to release unhealthy attachments to memories, events, ideas, and possessions. So, what if we asked you: What is weighing you down right now? How would your life be different if you let it go?

Is it the need to be perfect? – You are perfectly beautiful, and beautifully imperfect, and this is what allows you to be you. Perfection is an illusion—it doesn’t exist. Please stop stressing yourselves by trying to be perfect. Embrace your mistakes along the way, as much needed opportunities for growth, like blessings in disguise that make you wiser. If you fail at anything, it doesn’t mean you are failure, because you are not what you do. Sometimes we win, sometimes we learn. We never lose.

Is it the need to be busy all the time?  – We have mentioned this before.. Being in a rush isn’t a sign of virtue. Learn to listen to your body, and release any guilt for sometimes simply doing nothing. Sometimes you just need to recharge the batteries of your body and soul, and you don’t owe anyone any explanation for doing that. Hold space for yourself.

Is it making assumptions about what other people feel, want, or think? – There is no way to know what others are feeling or thinking. Many of us make up imaginary scenarios, and let our minds create elaborate stories. Each time you find yourself thrown off by what a person has said or done, take a moment for a reality check. Examine your thoughts and ask yourself: ‘Is that really true?’  For example, you might assume someone doesn’t like you, when really she’s just having a bad day. Or maybe she’s just shy. Not everyone is the same. The moment you realize that you can’t know what a person thinks, your mind gets clear and you will then be able to meet them with an open heart.

When we let something go that’s been weighing us down, we feel the relief deep in our soul.  No time is better than the present to make a conscious decision to release these negative thoughts so that you can enjoy your life in the moment as it unfolds. And if you can let go of some of the things that hold you back and weigh you down, you might just find that you can float out in this big world stronger, braver and so much happier!

“Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.”
―Ann Landers

care

“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.”
Sydney J. Harris

Summer is here, and for many of us it is a time filled with slower paced days, so in theory it is the perfect time to start focusing on taking extra good care of yourself— unwinding, decompressing and recharging.

The question is, how can you do this, not only in the summer, but all year round? Keep reading because that’s exactly what this blog post is all about!

Do nothing— It is easy to get trapped in the mindset that you have to do something all the time otherwise you are falling behind and not being productive. This way of thinking obviously adds lots of pressure and stress. So this summer start to try and doing nothing at all from time to time. Just go for a walk, then sit on a bench to take in the wonderful landscape. Or lie down in the grass and just watch the clouds go by. Savour those special moments, and feel all the stresses and tensions flow out of your body and mind.

Disconnect..from technology— We highly recommend trying this one out, especially if you tend to spend a lot of time online or talking on the phone. Start by staying away from your emails and phone for maybe 6 or 12 hours, then go ahead and check them again. You may be surprised to see that you haven’t missed much by not being available all the time, and that your stress levels have dropped quite a bit and it feels easier to fully focus on the things that are important to you.

Take your self-appreciation inventory — Half of 2017 has now gone by, and perhaps there may have been moments of disappointment. Perhaps you were disappointed in what you did, or didn’t get to do. Take a break from that mindset and ask yourself: What can you appreciate about what you have done and accomplished over these last 6 months? It doesn’t always have to be big things. And don’t forget to also appreciate the effort you put in even if things didn’t go exactly as planned.

Just say no- to the stress of the “Summer should’s”— Days filled with things you “just have to do before the summer is over” are draining, and they will leave you more tired than you were before your time off even started. Avoid these things by asking yourself: Will this matter in 5 years? Or even 5 weeks? Zooming out like this makes it easier to find a more mindful perspective on things, and helps you to see the real value of doing something.

Spend more time doing what you love – No matter what that might be. Think about how you can fit more what you love doing, into not only your summer, but the rest of your 2017. Take a couple of minutes and sit down with a pen and a piece of paper, and write about what you spend your time on during a normal week. Then find 1 or even 2 things that you think you could probably spend less time on so that you have a bit more time and energy over each week for more of what you love doing.

These are some tips to get you on the path of making more time and taking care of yourself. Tell us what do you have planned this summer to help make yourself a priority all year round?

design

“Interior design far surpasses just creating a visually appealing space, it’s purpose is to create a harmonic atmosphere that permeates emotional, and physical wellness.”

At The Hundred we believe that an aesthetically pleasing environment is as much a part of wellness as active living and healthy nutrition are. And something that is usually overlooked in the grand scheme of things, is that the spaces that we live and work in are key to our well-being and productivity. Which means that when our external environment is out of alignment with who we truly are, it has a negative effect on our ability to function at our fullest potential. But when our living (or working) space is clear and reflective of our authentic self, our energy is then freed up to flourish with more comfort and creativity. At the Hundred we are constantly re-aligning the space with our mission to accommodate growth of the business – most recently we have redesigned a few of our spaces with help from our talented friends at The Native Bohemians. We do believe that ANY time is a good time to put your life in order to be more productive, happy, and healthy, but the timing is even more perfect now with the quieter Summer days to do some organizing and decorating!

Now whether you are looking to create a home that is more conducive to relaxation and ease, or you are interested in re-vamping your home office so that it sparks your imagination and keeps you motivated, these three tips can help you organize your spaces to make them just right for you.

Declutter – When a space is cluttered and overflowing with unwanted and un-needed items, we sacrifice our ability to bring in the things that could actually serve us today. Choose to release what no longer serves you by either donating it if it is in good condition, or trashing it if it is no longer usable. Everything else must get organized, filed and placed in the most convenient location for easy access when needed.

Make your space a reflection of you – Designing a space that appeals to all of your senses and preferences is key. Its time to start decorating with intention. So bring in the elements that speak to you, and get you genuinely excited about being in that space. We like to play around with elements like color,  plants (we love our Greens!), and artwork (at The Hundred we love beautiful design, and to further give a personal touch we have also used some of Asma Lootah’s street photography) to bring together the full picture of our vision. After the first step above, you are now free of unnecessary items, so you can give your attention to the things that truly speak to you. Note* The goal here is not to necessarily spend money on lots of new items, but instead its about using what you already have in your home or office that represents you as an individual, but rearranging it in a way that feels more aligned with your personality.

Enjoy the process. – This is designing and decorating, it’s supposed to be fun! There is no need to rush or seek perfection. In fact, as far as we are concerned, a space is never ‘done’. Experiment, make mistakes, go back into your inspiration files when you need new ideas, but also commit to enjoying and using your home/office as it is right now.

Continue to give your living space the attention it deserves, and remind yourself of the important role that your environment plays in inspiring and moving you forward. And as we mentioned over on our Instagram…Wherever the space is that you find yourself in, we hope that it is of such a nature that it grounds your heart and energizes your soul. And if you are still searching for a place like that, our doors are always open!

 

meditation

Ramadan is coming to an end, and what better way to end this soul-full month than to send out positive vibes of love, kindness and re-connection to our families and community? Get Eid ready with this free guided meditation session, and build on the mindfulness that you have achieved over Ramadan. Led by Dr Mariam Ketait, this session will help you reconnect with your essence, and restore your personal sense of well-being, leaving you renewed from the inside and out, ready for Eid and the summer ahead. So if you are rushing around with last minute holiday preparations, leave your hurries at the door, and come sit with us and find the quiet.
We invite you to join us, no matter what your previous meditation experience is— a first-timer curious about meditation, or a seasoned meditator looking to help us send more love and kindness out to the community — we have saved you a spot and you are welcome to come and sit with us.

There is a certain magic when you take some time to slow down, re-center and give yourself the time to breathe and reconnect with yourself and those around you. So if magic is what you are looking for, book your spot and join us!

When: Thursday the 22th of June 2017 at 10pm sharp.

Where: At The Hundred Wellness Centre.

Limited spots available, so email or call us on +9714 3447333 to book your space.

p.s. If you can’t make it, but love the idea of healing through meditation then we have some
great new for you! Dr Mariam Ketait will be seeing clients at The Hundred starting in July so keep an eye open for all those details!